Season of Resurrection
Third
Sunday: JOHN 21:15-19
PETER IS THE PASTOR
INTRODUCTION
Last Sunday we reflected on Jesus allowing Thomas
to rectify his lack of belief in the Lord’s resurrection and Thomas
proclaiming his faith stating, “My Lord and my God.” Today we deal with
Jesus asking Peter three times to profess his love of Jesus more than
all other disciples to compensate for his thrice denial of Jesus at the
residence of Annas. Peter had repented for his failure (Lk 22:62) and
consoled himself, believing that the Lord who asked him to forgive
seventy-seven times (Mt 18:21-22) had pardoned him. Jesus reassigned
Peter the responsibility to lead the church using the analogy of feeding
his sheep. Jesus also predicted the persecution and martyrdom that Peter
would face. A Christian leader must love Jesus and lead a sacrificial
life dedicated to the church. Let our service in the family, church, and
community be based on love and compassion.
BIBLE TEXT
Loving and Feeding
(Jn 21:15) After
they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of
John, do you love me more than these?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know
that I love you.” And Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” (16) A second
time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And Peter
answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him,
“Tend my sheep.” (17) And a third time he said to him, “Simon, son of
John, do you love me?” Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a
third time, “Do you love me?” and he said, “Lord, you know everything;
you know that I love you.” Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep. (18) Truly,
I say to you, when you were young you used to fasten your own belt and
walked where you liked. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your
hands and another will fasten a belt around you and lead you where you
do not wish to go.” (19) Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death
by which Peter was to glorify God. And he added, “Follow me.”
INTERPRETATION
Background
According to the Evangelist John, Jesus first
appeared to Mary of Magdala (Jn 20:11-18) and then to the disciples (Jn
20:19-23) on the same day of his resurrection. During his appearance to
the disciples, he wished them peace, breathed on them giving the Holy
Spirit, and commissioned them to continue his mission with the authority
he shared to forgive and retain sins. However, Thomas missed this
opportunity because he was not with the disciples at that first
appearance. Jesus appeared to the disciples the next Sunday when Thomas
was present and complied with his demands. Thomas professed his faith in
Jesus stating, “My Lord and My God!” (Jn
20:28).
Though John concluded his gospel (Jn 20:30-31), he
added another section (chapter 21) where he presented Jesus appearing to
seven disciples during an unsuccessful fishing at the Sea of Tiberias.
He helped them to get a tremendous catch and had breakfast with them (Jn
21:14). Afterwards, Jesus gave an opportunity for Peter to express his
love and reinstated his leadership in the church God would establish on
the day of Pentecost. John added this section later to communicate how
Jesus reconfirmed the primacy of Peter even though he had failed in
acknowledging his discipleship during the trial of Jesus.
The breakfast Jesus had with his seven disciples
comprised bread and cooked fish. He gave those like he shared bread and
wine at the Last Supper. It convinced the disciples that their strange
helper was the Risen Lord. Similar situation happened to the two
disciples going from Jerusalem to Emmaus. “While he was with them at
table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (Lk
24:30-31).
The disciples had a silent meal with Jesus because
they did not dare to ask him any question. They were astounded at seeing
the Risen Lord again. If there had been any relevant dialogue during the
breakfast, the evangelist must have documented it.
Jesus broke the silence and focused on talking to
Simon Peter. Jesus had renamed Simon as Peter meaning rock and promised
him, “upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the
netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to
the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt
16:18-19). However, Jesus addressed him after the post-resurrection
appearance, “Simon, son of John” because Simon failed to be “rock” at
the trial of Jesus at Annas’ palace.
“More than these” could mean more than these
disciples, the fishing tools like the boat and the net, or the 153 fish
the disciples caught. Peter had already left his family and all worldly
desires to follow Jesus and he resumed fishing one time only to provide
temporary means of support for the apostles. So, the probable meaning is
“do you love me more than these disciples love me” so Jesus could
reinstate Peter as their leader.
Jesus included “more than these” for a specific
reason. At the last supper, Jesus told the apostles, “This night all of
you will have your faith in me shaken” (Mt 26:31). Peter’s reply was,
“Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be” (Mt
26:33). Though Peter had the enthusiasm to cling firmly on to Jesus and
even used his sword to prevent the arrest of Jesus at the Garden of
Gethsemane, he failed thrice at the courtyard of Annas. Hence, Jesus’
question was whether Peter was still passionate about Jesus more than
the other disciples.
Peter’s denial of Jesus was at a charcoal
fire in the courtyard of Annas (Jn 18:18). Jesus made Peter to express
his love for him thrice at a similar charcoal fire in the open space of
the lake (Jn 21:9). Instead of giving a direct and strong expression of
his love for Jesus more than others, Peter referred to Jesus’ awareness
of his love. Peter might have felt that his words had failed the
previous time. He did not wish to express his once broken promise again,
though he wanted to keep it. So, his answer was an acknowledgement of
Jesus’ understanding of his exclusive love towards Jesus.
God had considered Israel as his sheep and
shepherded them through his representatives who were the leaders or
shepherds in the community. Israel’s acknowledgement of the LORD as
their shepherd is expressed in Psalm 95:7, “For he is our God, we are
the people he shepherds, the sheep in his hands.”
However, some shepherds of Israel became
self-centered and failed in their duties. God spoke to them through
Ezekiel, “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing
themselves! Should not shepherds pasture the flock? You consumed milk,
wore wool, and slaughtered fatlings, but the flock you did not pasture.
You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the
injured. You did not bring back the stray or seek the lost but ruled
them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for lack of a
shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. They were scattered
and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; over the entire
surface of the earth my sheep were scattered. No one looked after them
or searched for them” (Ezek 34:2-6).
Jesus came to the world in a similar situation when
the scribes and the Pharisees were misguiding and exploiting the people.
Matthew presents Jesus’ denunciation against them in chapter 23. Jesus
acknowledged that they sit on the chair of Moses (v. 2). Since they do
not practice what they teach, the disciples should not follow their
example (v. 3). Unlike the scribes and the Pharisees who seek
recognition and exalts themselves, the disciples should be servants to
others (v. 11).
During his Galilean ministry, Jesus was moved with
pity for the people “because they were troubled and abandoned, like
sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36). Since the shepherds of the time
were not willing to accept him as the Messiah and change their
leadership style, he reestablished Israel with the church. He selected
and trained his disciples as new shepherds who should be faithful to
their calls.
Feed the lambs has a wider sense in Greek. The
shepherd is not just providing food but also taking care of all their
needs, like caring for them, guiding them to good pastors and still
waters, guarding them from wild beasts and thieves. Jesus wanted Peter
along with other apostles and their successors to minister the faithful
with spiritual nourishments, guide them to the eternal glory of God, and
protect them from the influences of Satan.
Feeding the lamb means nurturing with spiritual
food. It also involves feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and
educating the illiterate, as Jesus exemplified during his public
ministry. For that reason, the Christian missionaries and pastors take
care of the necessities of the people along with pastoral nourishment
and guidance to the eternal glory through Jesus.
Peter had learned how to lead the Christian
community following the model of Jesus, who used the example of a
shepherd feeding the sheep. Later, Peter advised his fellow presbyters,
“Tend the flock of God in your midst, [overseeing] not by constraint but
willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do
not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock” (1
Pet 5:2-3).
Jesus’ demand from Peter after his denial of
Jesus was not an expression of apology, but of love. Love can wipe away
the mistakes done to the person. St. Paul wrote on love, “Love is
patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is
not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is
not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice
over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor
13:4-7). In the story of the Prodigal son (Lk 15:11-32), the father did
not let his son complete his words of repentance. Out of his love, the
father ordered to celebrate the return of his lost son. The lack of love
of the elder son towards his brother made him protest, even against his
father.
Jesus and Peter repeated the question,
answer, and commissioning. However, Jesus did not include the
comparative expression, “more than these” in the second and third
questions. It is understood from the context, and Jesus focused on his
mutual relationship with Peter.
Repetition emphasizes the importance of the
theme. Jesus used “amen amen, I say to you” at the beginning of many
statements to express the truthfulness of what followed. In John’s
gospel, Jesus used this doubled “Amen, Amen” 25 times, followed by
important messages. Hence, Peter did not feel offended at repeating the
question and answer. He might have been happy to hear Jesus repeating
his unique pastoral role compared to the other apostles.
Through repetitive questioning, Jesus wanted
to communicate to Peter and the other disciples present that unlike the
shepherds of Israel, they must love Jesus more than anyone or anything.
The leaders of the time had forsaken the LORD whom they represented in
the community and exploited or neglected their sheep. Like Judas, their
interest was deviated to selfish gains. Because of their unwillingness
to reconcile with God and accept the message of the Messiah, Jesus
introduced new shepherds who would love Jesus and serve God and His
people through the church.
My:
With the expression “tend my sheep,” Jesus claims he is the owner of the
church, like God was the owner of Israel His sheep. The shepherds are
tending the sheepfold, the church, on behalf of Jesus. Hence, they will
be answerable to the owner when he returns. “Much will be required of
the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the
person entrusted with more” (Lk 12:48).
Lamb /
Sheep: In the
first commissioning, Jesus used “Feed my lambs.”
Whereas in the second time he said, “Tend my
sheep.” Lamb is the offspring of the sheep. A female sheep is ewe,
and a male sheep is ram. Lambs represent children who need faith
formation and new converts in the church. Sheep represent all other
Christians, male and female, who are adults in faith.
Feed /
Tend: The
lambs’ primary requirement is feeding. So, when Jesus said feed my
lambs, Jesus asked Peter to educate the new converts who were young in
their Christian faith. The church leaders need to teach them religion
with special attention. Children and youth also need faith formation at
their young age. That is why the church gives importance to catechism.
Besides catechetical and sacramental feeding, the adults in faith and
age need tending that implies guidance and governance.
What must be the reason for the threefold
question, answer, and assignment sessions between Jesus and Peter? Was
it because Jesus was not satisfied with Peter’s response for the first
two interrogations?
Number three in biblical numerology stands
for completeness or perfection. Since Peter denied Jesus three times as
a sign of his complete denial for the time being to save himself from
arrest at the trial of Jesus, he had to profess his love for Jesus three
times. Hence, Jesus asked the same question thrice and Peter answered
for each question, followed by Jesus’ response of assigning him to feed
the sheep. The repetition of the question three times reminded Peter of
his denial of Jesus thrice, which was a painful remembrance for him. He
realized the intention of Jesus for repeating the question and making
him answer the same each time. He was saddened that the master kept
repeating the question. However, Peter was also grateful to Jesus for
giving him the opportunity to compensate for his mistake and putting
trust in him.
Peter’s three replies have resemblance to David’s
prayer to God, “What more can David say to you? You know your servant,
Lord GOD!” (2 Sam 7:20). Peter, like David the king of Israel,
acknowledged the omniscience of God. Peter’s love for Jesus was far
beyond expression in words. As a human, he was weak, but committed to
Jesus out of his conviction that he was the Messiah.
Since Jesus was going to depart to his
Father, he needed a trustworthy leader to entrust his responsibility to
work as his vicar or deputy. Jesus had observed the leadership quality
of Peter, who had professed his faith in Jesus, “You are the Messiah,
the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). Though Peter had denied his
discipleship thrice, it was for a temporary escape from an arrest, and
he repented afterwards (Mt 26:75). Besides, that escape was
a necessity for the continuity of the church leadership after Jesus.
Peter’s denial of Jesus did not diminish
Peter’s love and faith in his master, and similarly Jesus’ love and
confidence in Peter. However, Jesus wanted to take away Peter’s guilt
feeling by expressing his love in Jesus. Jesus was sure of Peter’s faith
in Jesus as the Messiah. He was confirming the leadership of Peter as
the pastor in his physical absence in the world.
This verse could be a proverbial saying based on
life experience. The freedom and independence of a young age will end
once a person gets weak because of old age. Jesus used it to compare the
future of Peter when he would start working as head of the church on the
Day of Pentecost. Peter was later arrested and imprisoned as part of his
persecution. His crucifixion is also implied in this description (v 19).
Along with elevating Peter as the shepherd,
Jesus predicted the suffering he would undergo during his ministry.
Jesus, the good shepherd who told about himself, “A good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11) expected the same from Peter.
Just like Jesus predicted his passion, death, and resurrection
beforehand to the disciples, Jesus did the same regarding Peter, so he
would not be disappointed when that would happen. During the last
supper, Jesus told the disciples, “Where I am going, you cannot follow
me now, though you will follow later” (Jn 13:36). After his
resurrection, Jesus told Peter that his time to follow the way of Jesus
had arrived. Peter was going to fulfill his promise that he would
dedicate his life for Jesus (Jn 13:37).
Peter, who once denied Jesus three times,
never again did that. Instead, he boldly preached the gospel and endured
persecutions he had to face until his crucifixion.
A Christian glorifies God through his or her
suffering and death for the Kingdom of God. According to Peter, “whoever
is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God
because of the name” (1 Pet 4:16). When Jesus heard Lazarus was ill, his
response was, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory
of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (Jn 11:4). The
ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus was for the salvation of
humans and for the glory of God. Jesus prayed, “I glorified you on
earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now,
Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with
you before the world existed” (Jn 17:4-5). St. Paul wrote, “Therefore
God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above
every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11).
With Peter’s ministry and death, he also
glorified God, who exalted him in heaven. When Peter asked Jesus on
behalf of the apostles, “We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that
you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated
on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging
the twelve tribes of Israel” (Mt 19:27-28). Jesus highlighted the reward
for those who suffer for the kingdom, “Blessed are they who are
persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter
every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be
glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the
prophets who were before you” (Mt 5:10-12).
According to tradition, Peter lived 34 more
years and became a martyr in Rome, along with Paul. At Peter’s request
expressing his unworthiness to be crucified like his master, the
executors crucified him head down. Peter’s faith in Christ and fidelity
to the church remained firm like a “rock” until his martyrdom. The
evangelist presents the martyrdom of Peter not as a tragic end, but as a
glorious event.
Jesus first called Peter while he was fishing
with his brother Andrew at the Sea of Galilee. The sons of Zebedee,
James and John, who were Peter’s partners in fishing and later became
apostles of Jesus, were also present at the lakeside (Mt 4:18-22). Like
Peter got his first call to follow Jesus at the lake, Jesus asked Peter
again to follow him in a similar circumstance: after fishing, at the
presence of the same fishermen, near the same location, and calling him
with the same name, “Simon, son of John” (Jn 1:42). However, the
post-resurrection call was after predicting the suffering and martyrdom
of Peter. Jesus had told that his disciple, “must deny himself, take up
his cross, and follow” him (Mt 16:24). Peter renounced all worldly
ambitions and offered his life again for this call of discipleship with
a better understanding of its consequences.
MESSAGE
1. When the Risen Lord met the seven
disciples who were exhausted after an overnight and unsuccessful
fishing, he helped to get a good catch and provided them breakfast. Then
only he fed them spiritually. Let us also take care of the physical and
emotional needs of others, along with their spiritual nourishment.
2. Breaking the bread with the Risen Lord
gave the apostles an opportunity to understand and experience Jesus. Let
us do not miss every opportunity to attend the Holy Mass in the church.
3. A Christian leader, whether in the family,
parish, or community, is a representative of Jesus. That person cannot
shepherd without loving Jesus more than anyone and anything else. Are we
good Christian leaders?
4. The God-assigned shepherds of Israel were
unfaithful to God and irresponsible to their flock. So, God forsake them
and established the church with new shepherds. As shepherds of the new
age, we are answerable to God. We should lead those whom God entrusted
to our care with love and compassion. Are we following this?
5. Jesus is a good example of how to deal
with those who forsake us. Though Peter denied Jesus three times, he did
not retaliate or take away the leadership role he had previously
entrusted to Peter. Jesus could understand the pressure Peter faced at
the trial of Jesus. So, he reassigned Peter the same position after
giving him the opportunity to express his love towards Jesus. Like
Jesus, let us seek those who offend us and win them with love and
forgiveness.
6. Because of our human weakness, we might
also deny Jesus, like Peter. Whenever we fail, let us return to Jesus
and compensate for our failures.
7. Jesus asked the same question three times
to Peter, and he responded with the same answer, followed by Jesus
entrusting him to feed the sheep each time. Let us not be discouraged by
the repetitions in our liturgical prayers. They express our affirmation
and perfection.
8. After the Pentecost, Peter and other
disciples of Jesus voluntarily took up suffering as part of their
ministry and never again deny Jesus amid persecution. They loved and
served Jesus more than anyone and anything. By enduring hardships for
the kingdom of God and losing worldly achievements, they gained glory in
heaven. Let us also imitate them in our lives.
9. Parents are the shepherds for their
children and teachers for their students. Let them take care of the
faith formation of the young generation God entrusted to them at home
and by assuring their participation in the parish's catechism.
10. Let us respect and follow the shepherds
God assigned to us in our parish and diocese. While supporting them and
praying for them, let us also promote vocation to priesthood and
religious life.